A high-level probe into the scholarship scheme of the reserved category students in Maharashtra has unearthed massive corruption in the centrally-sponsored 'post-matric scholarship and freeship', which has annual allocation to the tune of Rs3,000 crore. The initial findings of the probe indicate 30-50% pilferage in the welfare scheme in six most backward districts of the state.
The special task force (STF), constituted by the Devendra Fadnavis government in January to probe into the malpractices in the scheme during 2011-12 and 2015-16, has submitted its preliminary report in March. The report indicates how higher education institutions in Maharashtra have been looting the public exchequer by seeking "inflated" reimbursements under the scheme, presenting lists of "ghost students" in the reserved/minorities/disabled category.
Several colleges were found to be withdrawing hefty sum under the scheme using fraudulent means, sometimes two folds of the actual amount, thanks to apathy or collusion with the officials of the departments, finds the STF.
A Nandurbar institution is accused of misappropriating Rs78 lakh in five years in the name of scholarships. In Osmanabad, 17 professional colleges were found to have withdrawn Rs4.4 crore, of which Rs2.2 crore were in the name of bogus students. Name of the institutions are being withheld by the administration as the investigation is still on. District-wise details of pilferage are still being compiled.
The STF, which is headed by inspector general of police Dr K Venkatesham has probed only six districts (Nandurbar, Osmanabad, Beed, Jalna, Buldhana and Chandrapur) in the first phase by closely analysing the audit reports of the social justice and tribal development departments along with the admission and exam records of education institutions. The STF has now extended its probe across Maharashtra.
The twin departments – social justice & special assistance and tribal development – which are entrusted to disburse the Centre's post-matric scholarships and freeship to the schedule caste and schedule tribe students respectively, now stand accused of being hand in gloves with the college managements. Such was the mess that both the departments reportedly reimbursed the fees to even non-existing colleges and for non-existing courses.
Alarmed with the findings, the STF, in an immediate measure, provided the government a checklist cautioning the two departments to take "utmost care" before releasing the funds at the end of the financial year. "A software firm whose portal is being used for disbursal of online freeship and scholarships since 2011 also stands accused of malpractices," said an official.
The scam in the scholarship scheme is reportedly on since many decades now. However, no efforts were made to launch a comprehensive probe and curb the corruption. Sanjay Vairal, head of an SC/ST students and teachers association, says, "The mess is more in interiors of Maharashtra than in the capital. "We are probing the records from 2011 onwards when the scholarship disbursal system was made digital. Nobody knows what happened before that," said a senior official suggesting massive corruption in the scheme since long. Refusing to share the details, Dr Venkatesham just remarked, "The taskforce is working on a model which can improve the process and eliminate the possibility of the ghosts taking away the scholarships-freeships and make it smooth and transparent for the genuine candidates."
The post-matric scholarships enable SC/ST students to obtain post-matric education including engineering and medical courses. The scheme provides for 100% Central assistance to the state governments and UT administrations. Students whose family income is less than Rs2.5 lakh are eligible to get freeship and scholarship both. While the tuition fee of the candidates is reimbursed to the colleges, the scholarship is deposited in the students account. The post-matric scholarship is available for minority and disabled students also.
Source: Over 50% pilferage suspected in quota students' scholarship in Maharashtra
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